Shipley-based SportsShoes.com acquires race event organiser

Online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer SportsShoes.com has acquired running race event organiser Podium 5K and announced an attempt to break the British 10-mile record on March 4 at the Steve Burke Sports Hub in Barrowford, Lancashire.

Starting at 10am and called ‘Breaking 10’, the event will see current joint 10km British record holder Emile Cairess attempt the record-breaking run on the 1.1km road circuit. Founded in 2014 by amateur fast runner Chris Barnes, Podium 5K began with a single race around the Steve Burke cycle track in Barrowford.

Since then, Podium 5K races at Barrowford have seen a British men’s road record of 13:20 achieved by Mark Scott and an unofficial women’s world record of 14:41 by Beth Potter. To date, Chis has organised more than 45 non-profit races for affiliated and non-affiliated athletes and expanded Podium 5K to include events in London, the Midlands and Wales.

As part of the acquisition, Shipley-headquartered SportsShoes.com has appointed Chris as a full-time event organiser who delivers all Podium 5K events and provides support to the race community.

Commenting on the acquisition, Chris Barnes said: “We’re very excited to become part of SportsShoes.com. The business has an excellent reputation within the running community and is known for understanding exactly what runners want and need and also being a retailer that’s committed to continuous innovation.

“Joining SportsShoes.com marks an exciting chapter not just for our organisation, but for the sport itself. The backing and resources now available to us will allow Podium 5K to explore more opportunities to support the fast-running community with exciting and innovative events in new locations.”

Alongside its track and record-attempt events, Podium 5K has diversified its range of running events following the acquisition.

This includes SportsShoes x Podium Underground, a 3km race on an underground electric go-kart track beneath London’s Canary Wharf on March 17 which includes a DJ and cash prizes for winners. SportsShoes.com’s managing director, Brett Bannister, added: “What Chris has achieved is truly remarkable. We knew about Podium 5K and admired how rapidly it gained traction with the fast-running community.

“We like to do things differently at SportsShoes, so rather than simply become a Podium 5K sponsor, we saw an opportunity to welcome Chris into the business. We are very pleased he has joined us as we are now able to further enable him to enhance his events for the benefit of fast runners.

“Our Breaking 10 and Podium Underground events are the start of us really ramping up the race series. Our aim is to not just help fast runners break records, but to also provide them with the opportunity to try something new in the UK. In time, we also aspire to put Podium 5K on the international stage with race series in various countries throughout the world.

“We have a saying at SportsShoes which is ‘it’s no fun standing still’. As well as getting people moving, we want to help them go faster, and thanks to Podium 5K, we are doing just that.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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